Cash register



March 14, 1933.

CASH REGI STER original Filed oct. 2o, i925 5 sheets-Sheet 1 I Char/w 1U. Grwl @tto-Lum;

c. w. GREENA 1,901,097

March 14, 1933. w GREEN 1,901,097

CASH REGI STER original Filed oct. 2o. i925 3 sheetsheet 2 Ill March 14,' 1933. (j,n W. GREEN 1,901,097

CASH REGISTER Original Filed OC.. 20. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENToFi-ic CHARLES W. GREEN, OF ILIN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T YTHE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND 1927. Serial This invention relates to cash registers in general and more particularly to indicating mechanisms therefor.

This application is a `division of the copending application of Charles W. Green, Serial Number 63,695, iiled October 20,1925,

- to which referencemay be had for a more complete description of the cash register to which the present invention has been applied. While the improvements set forth in this application are shown appliedto a particular type of cash register illustrated in the parent application their utility is by no means limited to this specific embodiment. The improvements are of such a nature that they maybe applied in various rmodifications t-o many other kinds and principles of cash registers and accounting machines.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved type of indicating mechanism whereby the numerals representing the amount of a sale and special identifying characters may be publicly indicated in an improved manner.

It is also an object of the inventionto'provide an improved construction of the means employed for holding up the operated tablets and releasing the tablets previously operated. In connection with the amount indicators it is also an object ofthe invention to arrange thefindicators and associate them with the amount keys in such a manner. that the indicators of each particular denomination are grouped. together, therebyv preventing adjacent indicators from overlapping each other as would happen if they were otherwise arranged. By yvirtue of the present arrangement there is secured greater conipactness and simplicity of construction and the mech anismby Which this is done being more easily operated and more cheaply manufactured. Y

The machine disclosed in the present application is equipped with an indicating mechanism adapted to indicate to the front and to the rear, not only the amount of a transaction but the clerkmaking the entry,

as well as the nature of the transaction being erformed. It is particularly in connection with the latter indicators that a novel con- Y CASH REGISTER Divided and this application filed .Tune V7,

struction is provided. In order that the transactions may be indicated by full Words rather than by the customary abbreviations, such as P. O. for Paid out, R. Acct for Received on accountetc., the machine herein disclosed is provided with a series of long, narrow indicator plates extending across the full Width of the machine and lmounted at opposite ends on pairs of arms so that it may be moved from a lower, concealed position to an upper exposed position by a parallel link-A motioii. Suitable connections are provided from the arm supporting one end of each indicator plate to the corresponding special transaction key. Provision `is also made for retaining an indicator in exposed position after it has been elevated, and for releasing and dropping the exposed indicator into concealed position during Vthe beginning of a succeeding operation. For the purpose of indicating a Cash transaction, Whichis by far the mostv frequent entry to vbe made, a fixed indicator is Vemployed and this is adapt-'i ed to be concealed by any of the other transaction indicators which may be elevated.

lMany other objects of the present invention will appear from the detailed descriptionr which will follow. While the invention-Willl e low, constitute a full vdisclosure of one form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figi. l is an end view of thel machine to Which the present improvements are applied showing the arrangement of the operating keys and the mechanism utilized to retain and release the indicators. 1 v Y Fig. 2 is a section in side elevation "of the machine showing the arrangement of the in to ydisclose the arrangement of a part of the indicator mechanism. p V;

A detailed description will now be given of the essential elements of the machine embodying the broad invention defined by the appendedv claims.

The illustrative machine is fofthe key-operated type of cash register and is providedV with-the usual series of operating keys, including amount keys 20 (Figs. l and d) and a number of special keys, which will be later described. v

The operating keys QOYas shown in Fig. l, are all mounted on al vshaft 2l extending across the machine and the keys are normally maintained with their forward operating ends elevatedby means of'a weighted bail 22 extending across the tops yof 'all the keys Y in rearof their pivots, the'bail having a plurality of arms extending forwardly and pivoted about the key shaft 2l.y Depression of the forward end of any key will serve to elevate vthe weighted bail 22 and carry the upper surface of the latter substantially into engageinentwith the under cut-out surface of a keyco'upler 23. At the same time, an' upper surface 24 toward the rear end of the key will engage the under surface of a projecting lip Q5 of the key coupler. Continued depression ofthe forward end of the keyl will then serveto elevate the key coupler 23 as well as the bail 22V and during this continued movement of the parts the lip 25 of the couplerl will enter the notch 26 of the operated key.

rlhe usual connections are provided from the key" coupler to a main operatingshaft within rvthe machine, these connectionsV comprisingal double'rack member 27 (Fig. I) having'sets of oppositely facing rack teeth adapted V,to alternately engage a pinion28 mounted on a main operating shaft Q9. As

i is well known in the art, thejoscillation of the keyV couplerby the depression andreturn of one or more'of the operating keys will serve to produce a full krotation ofthe shaft 29.

In the machine herein disclosed, meansare providedfor indicating' to both the front and the rear in` largeV letters and figures the amount of a given transaction, the 'clerken-4 .tering the transactlbn into the machine andV the nature ofthe transaction. y y

The amount' indicators comprise a series of targets'or tablets'SO eachhaving astem 8l` (Fig. e) which is suitably bent and directed to normally stand above one of the amount keys so that upon depression of the latter a surface 32 l) at therear end of the key will engage its associated stem 3l and elevate thelatter until an indicating head V33 isin exposed position. As clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and ll, the Vindicator heads are arranged in aligned groups from` front to Vrear of the machine sothat, for example, all of the dollars indicators are one directlybehind the other.` The main members of the indicator targets of each group aredivided into three separate groups, with three members aligned in each, while the stems extending from these members are further separated to form .ale

as those associatedlwith any group of amount Y keys. Thus, a plurality of targets 35 carrying aligned indicating headswith designations to indicate the particular clerksV keyl which has beenr operated are provided and have their stems 36 4extending over Vthe appropriate ones of the clerks operatingiey levers.

For the purpose ofmaintaining the raised soV indicator tablets in exposed position,ibetween operations of the machine, each indicator is rprovided. with 'rearwardly extending extension 37 which is adapted to co-operate with abail 38 pivcted by a pair of downwardly extending arms 39 on studs 40 mounted on the side frames of the machine. An indicator of cach group, to represent amounts and `clerks,lmay be elevated simultaneously, and as'the rearward extension of each such indicator passes the bail 3S the latter will be rocked slightly rearwardly" (Fig. l) until the extensions clear thebail, at which time the latter' will'be moved by means to be described, under the extensions and maintain the indicators in exposed position. `During the next operation of the machine, however, a pitman ll (Fig. l) which is connected -to one of the arms of the bail 39, will serve to rock the latterrearwardlybyy the co-operation ofa pin or roller l2 on the pitman with a box cam 43 mounted on the shaft 29. Through the connection mentioned, any indicators which were exposed by the preceding operation of the Y and held.

ible to a customer or thefclerk operating the' machine until the entry of a transaction has been fullyl'comfpleted, a concealing flash has been provided and is connected for movement by the key coupler. The-flash, which is deslip 25 of the key coupler.

ignated 44 is in the nature of a-rectangular box surrounding'all of the amount and clerks indicators and is attached by some suitable means, such as screws, to a pair ofupright supporting slides 45. vThelatter are each provided with a forked extension 46 (Fig. 1f) adapted to engage a Vpin 47 carried by the Through the pin and slot connection, `as the key rcoupler rises the pair of slides 45 and hence the flash 44 will `'be raised simultaneously with the selected indicators, and it is not until the key coupler is restored tov its normal position of rest that the selected indicators will be fully exposed to the customer.

The present invention `contemplates the use of a plurality of elongated indicator plates, bearing designations in full words of .the various transactions capable of being entered into Vthe machine. Since, by far, the greater number of transact-ions performed von any machine `are usually cash transactions, it has been found desirable to employ a pair of fixed indicators 48, extending across the machine and each provided With the word Cash. These fixed indicators are innormally exposed position, where one will indicate to the front of the machineand the other to the rear that the vlast transaction was a Cash sale. Whenever a transactiony of a different character is being` registered a pair of separate indicator plates are elevated, by mechanism which will now be explained, so that the new plates will conceal the fixed normally visible cash indicators. y

In the machine illustrated inthe drawings three pairs of special transaction indicators 49 are provided, so that one pair may indicate a Charge transaction, another pair a Paid out7 transaction and still another pair a Received onaccount transaction, one indicator of-.each pair being visible from the frontof the machine and the other from the rear of the machine. In order that the raising of each -of vthe elongated indicators, having the full word designations, maybe readily accomplished from` one end of the machine (being that end at which the special transaction keys are located) each indicator is mountedon a pair of vpivoted arms, so that the plate may be raised from concealed to exposed position by-a parallel. link motion. The arms for supporting-.the special indicator plates at the left hand end of the machine (Fig. 3) are formed into hails 50, each, of which serves to lconnectthe pair of arms to which are attached thev associated front andback indicators representing a pararms 56 pivoted on a rod 57 and in order f to permit the desired parallel movement of the indicators the connection between each indicator and its arm 56 comprises avertical slot 58 and a horizontal slot 59 in the indicator plate co-operating with studs 60 and .61, respectively, carried by the arm. From Fig. 4,- it will be clear that if the Paid out key is depressed, during an operation of the machine, its associated indicator operating slide 52 will be elevated and will engage the pin 51 to rock the bail 50 to which it is secured andthereby elevate the pair of indicator plates bearing. the full word designation Paid out.`

Through the double pin and slot connectionsv with the arms y56 at the right hand endv of these indicator plates the ylatter Vwill be elevated by a parallel-movement, to exposetheir designations and to conceal the cash indicators. Co-operationof the projection 55 of the slide 52 with the bail 38 lwill serveto maintain the pair of Paid out indicators in exposed position until the subsequent operation of the machine, when they will be dropped to either expose the fixed cash indicators or be replaced by another pair of transaction indicators. The transaction indi'- cators -are spaced from each other so that each may move past the adjacent indicators without interference therewith. The/means forspacing these indicators is clearlyshown in fFig. 3 andv comprisesspacing washers 66 mounted on shaft and arranged between the adjacentarms 56; also, on shaft 67 similar spacing washers 68 are provided between the adjacent bails 50. Thus, since the bails 50 and arms 56 are attached to their respective indicators at opposite ends thereof, the provision of `spacing washers in this manner for-ms an effective meansforspacing the indicators. In place of washers, bossesmay be formed` in therespectivevbails andfarms aforesaid, thereby permitting sufficient' clearance space between adjacent indicators 4to, prevent `interference thereof vwhen anyone of the indicatorsis selected for opera-tion.

For thepurpose of. arresting the indicators when'theyv are dropped a'plura-lity ofblocks 62 (Fig. `4) are provided andy these may be of-1neta1 or, in order toprevent any undue metallic noises in the dropping ofthe long A iio Y parallel links for supporting the oppositeV ends Vof each of said indicators, a bail con- Ved -With said keys bearing full word desigv transaction indicators, during an operation of the machine, they may be in the form of felt pads (see `Fig. 2) extending from 1 front to rear of the indicator supporting frame.y

Furthermore, for the purpose of further reducing the metallic noises, each of the indicators may if desired, be provided with a strip of felt 63 mounted in the channel on the rev-erse side of the channelform vindicating plate, as shown in Fig. 2A. r v

While the form` of mechanism herein described is admirably adapted to fulfillk the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown, since itmay be embodied in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

rIVhat is claimed is: l. In a machine of the class described, :a special` key, a pair lof normally concealed indicators associated'with said key, a pair' of necting the links at one end of said' pair of indicators, and means for rocking said bail to rock said pairs of links to cause said related pair of indicators to be elevated' into exposed position. i

2. vIn a machine of the classdescribed, a plurality of special keys, a plurality of indicators arranged in pairs, each pair related to one of said special keys, links for supporting said indicators at opposite ends to permit movement of the indicatorsand to maintain themin constantly parallel relation to the base ofthe machine, means associated with -said special keys for liftingjthe associated pairs of indicators from a concealed to an exposed position, means for retaining a pair of lifted indicators in exposed position and means for releasing said indicators upon a subsequent operation of the machine.

r.3.In a machine of the class described, a pluralityof special keys, indicators associatedV with said keys bearing full word designations descriptive of said keys, pivoted means for supporting said indicators at opposite ends, said means permitting they movement of said indicators from al concealed to an exposed position and maintaining said indicators constantly in a horizontal position, and connections from said special keys for' lifting said indicators into exposed position, 4. Inv a machine of the class described, a plurality ofspecial keys, indicators associatnations descriptivelofsaid keys, pivoted means for supporting said indicators at op#` posite ends, said means permitting the vmovementV Vof said indicators from a 'concealed to 'an exposed position and maintaining said indicators constantly in a horizontal position',

' an associated movable indicator forl lifting the same into exposed position whereby the fixed indicator becomes concealed. r

6.k In a machineof the class described, a plurality of transaction keys, a plurality of elongated indicator plates normally concealed, connections from saidfkeys for eleL vating said indicator plates to exposed posi-v tion, means for retaining said plates in ex-` posed position when elevated, means for releasing said retaining means and permitting restoration of said plates to normalconcealed position, and a felt 'pad secured to each of saidplates to deaden the ysound of impact when said indicator plates are restored.V Y 7.` In a machineof the class described, a plurality of special indicator plates each extending across the machine, means for supporting each of said indicators ati opposite ends thereof for parallel movement in a single plane from concealed tovexposed positions, means for spacingk said indicators to prevent contact between adjacent plates, and means formoving any desired one of said indicator plates individually from concealed to exposed positions. l

8. In a machine of the class described,VV a special indicator platey extending across the machine, a pair of pivotedl arms Lsupporting said vplate at opposite ends, a double pin and slot connection between said plateand the arm at one end, a pivotal connection between kb'yfa pin carried by the said arm engaging an open-ended slot formed in the indicator plate,

and means for preventing disengagement of the pinfrom said slot.

,10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a lspecial indicator plate extending across the machine, a pair of pivotedk arms supporting said plate at oppositeends one of said arms being connected to the plate by a pin carried by the said arm engaging an' f open-ended slot formed in the indicator plate, means for preventing disengagement of the pin from said slot, said means comprising a supplemental pin engaging a closed slot formed in the indicator plate.

11. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a special' indicator plate extending across the machine and normally indicator arranged at opposite ends thereof,

said supporting means being so arranged as to permit movement of the indicator vertically in a single plane but along the plane, and means for moving the indicator.

13. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of special indicator plates extendring across the machine, pivoted means for supporting' each of said indicators for parallel movement in a single vertical plane from concealed to exposed position, means for spac ing said indicators to prevent contact between adjacent plates, and means acting upon the said pivoted means to move the said indicator plates individually from concealed to exposed position.

14. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of amount keys, a plurality of special keys, a fixed indicator normally exposed, amount indicators adapted to be concealed thereby, a plurality of normally concealed indicators associated with said special keys, and means whereby any amount key may elevate the selected amount indicators and operate a special indicator for exposing the latter following selection of said indicator by a special key, said special indicator When in exposed position concealing the said fixed indicator.

15. In a machine of the class described,

n amount indicators having exposed and concealed positions, a lixed special indicator exposed beloyi7 the exposed position of the amountindicators, a movable special indicator, and means for moving the selected amount indicators and special indicator into exhibiting position in which the fixed special indicator is concealed by the movable special indicator.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a special indicator plat-e extending across the machine, supports for said plate at opposite ends thereof, actuating means engaging one only of said supports to move said plate, and pivotal means embodied in said supports arranged to cause parallel movement of said plate in a single plane upon movement of said support by said actuating means, said indicator and supports therefor being disposed in the upper extremities of the machine.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a special indicator plate extending across the machine, a pair of arms pivoted to and supporting said plate at opposite ends, means engaging one of said arms for actuating said plate to operative or inoperative position, said plate maintaining a horizontal position throughout its movement.

CHARLES WV. GREEN. 

